South Africa’s Springboks will be holding the final test of their registered tour series with Georgia at Mbombela Stadium on Saturday.
After a 54-7 victory in the exhibition in the first Test (42-24 victory) against Italy, Springboks were far more clinical in their 45-0 test victory at Azzurri.
Rassie Erasmus chose to repeat the changes again and try out the new combination under the leadership of Captain Siya Kolisi. The coach’s experiment worked well in his second victory in Italy as Springbok successfully launched a lineout style mall in open play and claimed a positive advantage.
Varsity Cup Player of the Year Ntokozo Makhaza’s Late Try will require a much stronger performance against the incumbent world champions as he gave Georgia a 24-20 victory in the exhibit game.
Important details:
Date: Saturday, July 19th, 5:10pm Cat (3:10pm GMT, 11:10am ET)
Venue: Mhombela Stadium, Mhombela, Mpumalanga
Judgment: Matthew Curly
How to watch: Matches are available on SuperSport.
Team News:
South Africa chose the front row in front of Boan Venter, Manus van der Merwe and Niesling Fusch’s Born Venter. Meanwhile, Korisi returns to captain on the flank after an injury and partners with two-time World Rugby Player of the Year Peter Steph Dutote.
Only five players have held the place in the starting lineup from their 45-0 victory in Italy. Edwill van der Melwe, Canan Mudy, Grant Williams, Dutoit and Luan Nortier.
After Willie Le Lou won his 100th Springbok cap in his second Test against Azzurri, Apherelele Fassi will start with the team fullback this time.
Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu started with Flyhalf, and Handré Pollard is one of three backline players on the bench on a 5-3 split. The others are Faf de Krerak and Damian Willems.
Springboks:
Starting back: 15 Apherele Fass, 14 Merwe’s Edwill, 13 Canan Moodie, 12 Damian the Allene, 11 Curt-Leean
Advance: 8 Cobs Wiese, 7 Peter Steph Dutto, 6 Siacolisi (Captain), 5 Luan Nortier, 4 Ebenètzebes, 3 Neesling Forche, 2 Marnus van der Melwe, 1 Boanbenter
Exchange: 16 Bongi Mbonambi, 17 Thomas du Toit, 18 Vincent Koch, 19 RG Snyman, 20 Kwagga Smith, 21 Faf de Klerk, 22 HandréPollard, 23 Damian Willemse
Georgia:
TBC
statistics:
The only four players in Springbok Starting XV with over 30 caps at Springbok are Eben Etzebeth, Kolisi, Du Toit and Damian de Allende.
The backline has a total of 165 caps, 319 among the forwards and 437 among the players named on the bench.
South Africa has only played Georgia twice, winning the 2003 Rugby World Cup in Australia 46-19 and the 2021 Pretoria Test 40-9.